Lansdowne, Virginia

Lansdowne is an unincorporated residential planned, resort-style community, located near Leesburg, Virginia, north of Route 7 and south of the Potomac River, approximately 25 miles west of Washington, D.C. A master association, the Conservancy, umbrellas the major properties held in common, and oversees separate homeowners associations (“HOA’s”) for each project, all run separately. Under the Conservancy, there are 3 major HOA’s: Lansdowne on the Potomac, Village Greens, and Leisure World. Additionally, there are smaller HOA’s for the lands held in common that include office and retail space, as well as other services, creating a complete town center under the area called Lansdowne. With the additional presence of the luxurious Lansdowne Resort, residents enjoy a country club style of living with the convenience of shopping and services, making it a prized location in Loudoun County.

Developed in the late 90’s on former plantation land rich in history, one of the principal HOA’s, Lansdowne on the Potomac, is fully built out and has 2,155 homes on site; 1,442 are detached homes and 713 attached single-family homes. The Lansdowne on the Potomac HOA is professionally managed by Community Management Corporation of Chantilly, VA. Four main residential areas were developed in phases by different developers: “Coton Commons,” “River Oaks,” “The Highlands;” and“West Goose Creek.” Avoiding a cutter-cutter look, a variety of builders are sprinkled throughout each area and include the award-winning Van Metre, Brookfield (including Brookfield’s purchase of John Lang Builders), Beazer Homes, NV Homes, Basheer & Edgemoore, and Centex. Fees for the HOA are reasonably in the middle, and include cable, internet, and telephone service, as well as membership in the Potomac Club, maintenance of common areas, management of the Association, and trash removal and recycling.

In addition to the single-family residential areas, the Lansdowne community includes the townhomes and condominiums of the Village Greens, run as a separate HOA. Being conveniently located next to the Lansdowne Town Center, a mix of retail, restaurant, and office space, makes it easy to work near home. Also in the Lansdowne area, Leisure World is a luxury high-rise retirement community, run separately with its own HOA. Areas held in common for these three principal HOA’s at Lansdowne are, among others, INOVA Loudoun Hospital, the retail and services of the Lansdowne Town Center, the luxurious Lansdowne Resort, a new fire station, and Camden Apartments. These properties contribute to both the resort and business atmosphere of the residential community.

The developer of Lansdowne dedicated certain areas to Loudoun County, held in common by all the Lansdowne HOA’s, including a natural park on the Potomac. Jean Garrell, a Lansdowne resident and real estate specialist, pointed out the benefits of living in Lansdowne when she said, “Residents and families really love living here. The different builders intermixed all throughout give a unique charm to the neighborhood. Landowne’s resort style living offers something for everyone to include three PGA Golf Courses and a new 40,000 sq. foot state-of-the-art Golf Club, Potomac Club’s Recreational Facility with indoor and outdoor pools, sports complex fields, canoe and kayak launch on Goose Creek, walking and biking trails, and so much more. Additional draws are sought-after schools and a hospital located right on the property, with the new Lansdowne Town Center that has shopping, restaurants and entertainment.”

A focal point of the community does seem to be the Potomac Club complex and is a big draw for many families living in Lansdowne on the Potomac. A lap lane is usually always available at the 25-meter indoor pool. Outside, there is a resort style pool with spa that supports a lively swim team, “The Lightnings,” during summer months. Joanne Copperthite, a mother and 6-year resident of Lansdowne on the Potomac, said “We have the best swim team! My kids have had the greatest time. Best decision we ever made to get our kids involved.” To their merit, the swim team often raises money for charitable events, which keeps the entire community connected. Beside the pools, the Potomac Club complex also houses exercise and aerobics rooms, computer business centers, meeting rooms, game rooms, and a ballroom that can be rented for special events and receptions, and is in frequent use for social events sponsored by the active HOA. On the exterior grounds of the Club, a tot-lot, and a beach volleyball court extend relaxation opportunities. During the summer months, the community enjoys outdoor concerts and bands at the amphitheater, and the whole area looks forward to the annual Oktoberfest.

Most residents throughout Lansdowne are young professionals in their 30’s and 40’s, raising families, although sprinkled throughout the neighborhoods are plenty of empty nesters and some retired couples. Lansdowne on the Potomac is fully built out, and there are usually always homes available. The price ranges for homes vary from town homes and condominiums priced in the 300’s to the luxury executive homes priced in the 1 million range. John Whitbeck, Lansdowne on the Potomac HOA President and an attorney in Leesburg said, “We have amazing diversity here at Lansdowne on the Potomac—so many varied backgrounds, all living together as a community. I love living here, knowing that my kids will grow up being exposed to so many different kinds of people. It’s a great place to live.”

All students in Lansdowne neighborhoods attend schools that are part of Loudoun County Public Schools, offering educational programs that rank with the best in Virginia and in the nation, providing well-run programs for Gifted Students, Vocational and Alternative Education, as well as Special Education. Onsite, elementary students attend Seldens Landing Elementary; middle school students attend Belmont Ridge Middle. Until 2010, High schoolers have attended Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, a short distance away. Those Stone Bridge students may continue there or continue with incoming students to the newly completed Tuscarora High School, just north of Leesburg.

On the property of Lansdowne on the Potomac, adjacent to what is now the Potomac Club house, sit two recently renovated buildings, a smaller smoke house and a larger, full detached kitchen that were once part of the Coton Plantation, run in the 1800’s by Thomas Ludwell Lee, Jr., a member of the illustrious Lee family for whom Leesburg was named. The Coton Plantation was an active plantation through that time and you can still see part of Mary’s Mill when hiking along nearby Goose Creek Trail. The silo from the plantation’s barn is now part of the Club house, adding history and character to the site. Whitbeck appreciates these symbols from history that are mixed in with the modern country club lifestyle. “We live close enough to the toll road to have easy access to all points east into D.C.,” he said. “And yet we live far enough away to experience a true southern community. I don’t want to live anyplace else.” Resident Copperthite agreed. “The draw for us was this sense of community,” she said. “My kids can always find a friend here. I don’t ever have to worry, because everyone is looking after everyone else.”

Population Trends

Between 2009 and 2014, the population in this area is projected to increase about 20%. In comparison, Loudoun County population is expected to grow 23.5%. The population of Virginia is projected to increase 5.5%.

Racial Characteristics

Between 2009 and 2014, the White population is expected to grow by 7%, the African American population by 43%, the Asian population by 53% and Hispanic population by 33%.

Race/Ethnicity

% of population

% of population (VA)

White

67.88%

69.69%

African American

7.2%

19.67%

Asian

18.32%

4.86%

Hispanic

5.8%

3.2%

Age Distribution

Household Composition

Household Income

The median household income for this area is $146,301, compared to a state median of $60,690, as estimated for 2009.

Income Category

% of households

% of households (VA)

Less than $25,000

1.08%

17.87%

Less than $50,000

4.16%

40.94%

Less than $75,000

10.36%

60.5%

Less than $150,000

52.35%

88.89%

More than $150,000

47.65%

11.11%

Housing Type

Type of unit

% of units

% of units (VA)

Single family - detached

59.26%

62.6%

Single family - attached

40.19%

9.96%

2-unit/duplexes

0%

1.92%

Apartments

0.22%

19.11%

Mobile/manufactured

0%

2.75%

Other types

0%

0.12%

Data source: Policymap.com with Claritas. Data are for census/town/district/city/zipcode boundaries for which demographic information is typically available. Data may include areas outside the recognized community boundaries; for example, the data for a community could include the entire zipcode if that is the smallest area available from which to draw data.

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